The Bishop of Rome told the migrants, homeless and poor to have faith in Jesus, who 'never deludes,' but brings peace to the heart.

Pope Francis meets children of Rome‘s Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Praetorian Barracks parish on Jan. 19.

– Lauren Cater/CNA

ROME — As the Bishop of Rome, Pope Francis made a pastoral visit to one of his parishes Sunday, choosing one situated in an area filled with migrants, refugees, homeless persons and drifters.

During his Jan. 19 visit to Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Praetorian Barracks, Pope Francis said Mass in the evening and met with members of the parish, including the homeless who live near Rome’s large Termini train station.

While located in Rome’s geographical center, three miles east of the Vatican, Sacred Heart is in an “existential periphery” of the city.

“Initially [Pope Francis] said, ‘I don’t want to go to a church in the center of Rome, but on the outskirts,’” the parish’s pastor, Salesian Father Valerio Baresi, said.

“Then he realized [that] we, because we are in the center of Rome — we’re across from Termini station — we live in the reality of an existential periphery, because here there are numerous poor people, looking to survive near the station.”

Termini is Rome’s main railway station, connecting it to Europe and Italy’s major cities. It is also a metro station, where the city’s two main lines intersect.

Sacred Heart offers special outreach to the diverse populations who arrive at Termini, often living on the peripheries of society. Each Thursday, the parish hosts a get-together with games, songs and reading the upcoming Sunday Gospel together, as well as a dinner. On Friday, a group of young people bring dinner to the homeless at Termini station.

“It’s not just that we give them something to eat: Above all, we create relationships,” explained Father Baresi.

The many activities are run by both the Salesian priests at the parish and a group of missionary sisters from Argentina. Together, they work “with the youth” rather than “for the youth” of the parish, Father Baresi said, forming the young people to be able to enter into the work of service with people from all over the world.

“It’s beautiful to see the young refugees together with the young Italians — mutual enrichment, one learning from the other, one teaching the other,” he said.

Sacred Heart, which serves more than 400 refugees every year, also offers Italian classes, education courses and a driving school, Father Baresi said, “so that they can find it easier to enter into the world of work.”

The Pope’s Homily

During his homily for Mass, Pope Francis preached on Jesus Christ as the “Lamb of God,” taking on the “weakness” of humanity.

Christ “takes away many sins with love,” preached the Bishop of Rome, adding that he “is full of love, close to the small, close to the poor: He was there among the people.”

The city’s bishop also emphasized the profundity of God’s forgiveness.

“Maybe we have torment in the heart, darkness in the heart; maybe one feels sad for a sin,” Pope Francis said. He soon added, “But [Jesus] came to take on all the sins. … This is the salvation of Jesus.”

Jesus came to bring “peace in the world, but first in the heart,” he said.

“We must grow in faith in Jesus.”

Pope Francis explained that, often, people have faith in a doctor or a brother or sister to help them, and “it is good to have faith in humanity. But don’t forget to have faith in the Lord. This is the key to life.”

“Jesus never deludes, never, eh? Never — listen well, you young people, who are starting life: Jesus never deludes,” he said.

Pope Francis then led the congregation in an Ignatian-style meditation about Sunday’s Gospel reading.

“I invite you to do something,” he said. “Close your eyes. Let us imagine this scene. We arrive at the river. There is John the Baptist, and Jesus passes by. We hear the voice of John the Baptist, ‘Behold, the Lamb of God,’ and, now, we hear the voice of Jesus in each one of us, in the silence of our hearts.”

Following the Mass, a refugee from Ghana named Steven told CNA he appreciates Sacred Heart because, “here, they have respect for everyone — we are all like family here; we don’t have a difference between refugees or the people who live in Rome.”

Steven met Pope Francis during the pastoral visit and said that when he asked the Pope to pray for him, the Pope replied, “Pray for me, too.”

“One thing he said that was very interesting for me,” Steven added, is “he said that no one here can save us — only God will save us.”

Comments

Ben and Lillian: Here is a starting point. It is an idea, but certainly not the only possibility by a long shot. It seems the “Group Project” might be the way to go. http://www.worldvisionmicro.org/groups?lpos=bot_txt_GroupGiving
Also, perhaps we could re-institute a program similar to what many Catholic school children did up into the 1960s - find a missionary that needs clean water source or medical supplies, and work on raising the funds or making the connections to have the needed material assistance provided. (There are great needs in this arena in our own country, on many of the Indian reservations, as well as other remote locations.)

Posted by Lillian Porter on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 10:20 PM (EST):

Ben,
I’ve asked the same question as you: “What can Catholics do to help grow opportunity and economic hope in these struggling nations? Mass immigration is not acceptable due to the extreme burdens it places on weak social safety nets, and it forces poor citizens to complete for scarce funds”. I was thinking tourism might be an answer. I remember hearing the witness of a beautiful couple who moved to Medjugorge to start a bed and breakfast. In the UK they used to talk about the “brain drain” when I was young - UK professionals moving to the US for more money or opportunities. Now how about a reversal of our thinking?Instead of using our resources for the sake of ourselves - one person or one family - why not take it where our expertise can support the efforts of local people in poor lands?

Posted by Bob on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 5:41 PM (EST):

Thank you Pope Francis for breaking the mode of the bureaucrat and doing the ministry of Christ from the heart.

Posted by KATHY MONTI on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 3:26 PM (EST):

OPEN BORDERS, ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION, NOT THE ANSWER TO ALL OF THE WORLDS PROBLEMS. EACH COUNTRY SHOULD TAKE CARE OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE , EDUCATE THEM, FEED THEIR OWN POOR, AND PROVIDE THEIR OWN WELFARE FOR THEIR CITIZENS. ITS TIME FOR ALL THE CATHOLIC BISHOPS AND THE POPE TO LECTURE HEADS OF OTHER COUNTRY’S THAT HAVE A LOT OF REFUGEES NOT JUST CERTAIN COUNTRIES THAT ARE BETTER OFF THEN OTHERS.

Posted by Blaise Pascal on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 2:19 PM (EST):

As they say in Poland, Mat Kaboska. I miss Benedict the XV1

Posted by Lisa Spear on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 1:23 PM (EST):

“One thing he said that was very interesting for me,” Steven added, is “he said that no one here can save us — only God will save us.”

I hope that Pope Francis makes that same point to each and every political leader that comes to an audience with him: ONLY GOD will save us. This will be a revelation to most, I fear.

Posted by Ben in Maine on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 11:28 AM (EST):

Justice for the citizen, kindness for the stranger.

What can Catholics do to help grow opportunity and economic hope in these struggling nations? Mass immigration is not acceptable due to the extreme burdens it places on weak social safety nets, and it forces poor citizens to complete for scarce funds. But we must fine ways to help immigrants become leaders and entrepreneurs, so they can help revive their countries.

Posted by Fulvio Di Prinzio on Tuesday, Jan 21, 2014 10:30 AM (EST):

All human beings are running the race of their life, but no one wants to finish first. Pope Francis is showing us that he is more than willing to finish firt. TRULy GODS SERVANt.

Join the Discussion

We encourage a lively and honest discussion of our content. We ask that charity guide your words.
By submitting this form, you are agreeing to our discussion guidelines.
Comments are published at our discretion. We won’t publish comments that lack charity, are off topic, or are more than 400 words.
Thank you for keeping this forum thoughtful and respectful.